On Monday we were set an assignment to create are own typeface based on a word we picked out of a bucket, the word which I picked was 'quaint', we then had to choose a font based on one of Mueller-Brockmanns classic and lead typefaces, these are the typefaces of choice:
1. Garamond
2. Caslon
3. Baskerville
4. Bodoni
5. Clarendon
6. Berthold
7. Times
8. Helvetica
9. Univers
Once given the typefaces, we then had to search the word we got given, mine was 'quaint' so I bhttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/quaintegan to search to try find different meanings of the word. This is what I've found during my research:
- Having an old-fashioned attractiveness or charm; oddly picturesque.
- Strange, peculiar, or unusual in an interesting, pleasing, or amusing way.
- Something Skillfully or cleverly made.
- Attractive because of being unusual and especially old-fashioned
- Quaint can also be used to show that you do not approve of something, especially an opinion, belief or way of behaving, because it is strange or old-fashioned
Examples:
- ''A quaint old cottage''
- "What a quaint idea!" she said, laughing at him.
From finding some information out I began to sketch a spider diagram, so I could put all the different meanings I found together.
Once sketching the spider diagram, I then began to look at the typefaces that we were allowed to use, I now knew that I was looking for a unique, old-fashioned typeface that was preferably a serif font. So I began by listing the typefaces down and looking the types up online looking for the most old-fashioned type that had unique qualities.
As you can see I have marked crosses at the end of the type names that I did not think would be suitable to use as my type. The main reason why I did not choose these is because they were far to modern and were not serif fonts. The reason why I am after a serif font is because I find that serifs look older as they have Brackets on the end of them which we see in old victorian writing.
After analysing the fonts that were not going to be suitable for my project I then began to focus on searching for the type that would be suitable, so I made a list of the typefaces that were remaining.
From this I then researched the images again and printed them out to write notes and compare all the fonts which were left.
Garamond, which is the font in the top left hand corner had the following features:
- It is a serif font.
- It usesBrackets at the end of the letters.
- It doesn't have anything unique about the font.
- It looks to modern due to the simplicity and lack of uniqueness in the font.
Bodoni, which is the font below the Garamond font had the following features:
- It is a serif font.
- It uses brackets.
- The letter 'G' has a tail which is placed in a sophisticated manner
- On letters such as 'r' and 'c' at the bottom end of the letters they curve off, creating a smooth elegant flick at the end of the letters.
- It's very slim and elongated, which makes it look like it would be used in fashion logo designs and designer shops.
Times, which is the font below Bodoni has the following features:
- It is a serif font
- It uses brackets
- A tail is uses at the end of the letter 'Q', which makes the type look more formal.
- On letters such as 'J' and 'S' at the bottom of each letter the tails seems to flick off in an unusual manner.
- Due to the width of this font I do not think that it would work, as it looks to chunky. It also lacks unique qualities and only has a few.
Baskerville, which is the font on the top right hand corner, has these following features:
- It's a serif font.
- The use of the tale on the letter 'Q' is very unique and different, personally never seen a flick like that before it makes the type look more formal.
- It uses brackets, this makes the type look victorian.
- It has defenders on the letters 'q' and 'y' this also gives a sense of formality.
- The thickness of the main body of text is just the right thickness.
- I almost feel that this typeface looks like a modern version of a victorian typeface.
Caslon, which is the font below the Baskerville font, has theses following features:
- It's a sans serif font.
- It uses brackets which make it look old fashioned/victorian.
- On letters such as 'E' it's bracket is tilted to the side slightly almost like an italic font, which gives it more of an old fashioned look to it.
- It also has a tail on the letter 'g' which again make it formal and historic.
- The thickness of this font is also just the right size.
After analysing the fonts I could choose from, It then came down to two fonts which are Baskerville and Caslon that I thought would work. To decide which font out of the two that would best fit I wrote some comparisons down on my note book.
From comparing the typefaces, I found that the only difference between them is that the Baskerville font is more modern than the Caslon font and therefore Caslon would fit better for the word I was given 'quint'. Caslon fit's well with my word as it uses some unique flicks on the tails of letters,it's a serif font which most old fashioned victorian fonts use and the thickness is not to bold or to much of a statement just like old victorian text.
From this I then started to think of the word quient and think of what and where you would call quient. I found that you would find places such as York quient and vintage cafes and sweets shops quient. I then searched cafes and shop and places and gathered some imagery to see what the typefaces look like that they were using, here are the following:
From finding this research I then began to create some sketches of the type face and tried to think of ideas in how I could manipulate it as you can see below.
Once sketching the typeface down I then took It on to photoshop and started digitally experimenting.
In this type below which I manipulated by winding the body type, as during my research I found that in old fashioned type fonts which were used on old pubs or cafes seem to be quite broad and robust. By doing this I found that it didn't work so well as it didn't enhance the other meanings of the word quaint in therms of the fact it does't enhance the idea of it being unique, as it looks to similar to current fonts.
In this typeface below I stretched it downwards as I also found that characters in other old fashioned typefaces seemed to also look quite long and quite bold. Again I didn't think that this idea worked particularly great as it looks to similar to other old fashioned type and may look like I'm ripping the original font off and I also thought that it didm't look unique or have anything special about it.
From experimenting the ideas above, I decided that I wanted to keep the font simple as i felt the original font already look old fashioned, so I decided from this I needed to concentrate in making it look more unique. I began doing even more research in to old fashioned type and I saw some similar types used similar ideas using lines. I decided that by adding simple rectangular shapes in the middle of the letters made it look quirky and unique. So far this idea I have created is my favourite as it's old fashioned,quirky and unique. I could see this typeface being used in a cafe or a boutique shop.
Adding on brackets
For this experimentaion I added small rectangular shapes at the end of the letters to make the letters look friendly and not as sharp as they previously.
From doing this I’ve noticed that it has made the font look bold and easier to read. There for if it was used as sighnage I believe it would be eyecatching and stand
However I feel that it didn’t look unique and compared to other fonts out in industry today it looked to similar to other fonts that have been produced.
I also felt that the font looks satisfactory and therefore would not make the public intrigued in theboutique shop or cafe.
I also feel that the font does not look suitable for a boutique storeas it is to bold and looks like it would be used possibley in thriller books and movies.
I also felt that it lost its heritage look and that it didn’t look Victorian anymore. Overall I’m glad I experimented with this idea as it’s helping me limit down which font i’ve created that I should use.
Bold
This is the last piece of experimentaion which I have created in illustrator.
For this experiment I added a heavy stroke to make the font lok bold and stand out. As you can see by doing this it has mad the brackets blunt and less sharp.
The use of the strokes on the font have also widened the font and made it look very flat, It almost looks like a typewriter font.
Overal I found that this font would not be suitbale for my final outcome, as compared to my previous experimentes it lacks unique qualites and it also looses the look of age and old Victoruian type.
Final Typeface design choice
I choose this idea for my design because of the following:
- It still has it’s victorian elements to it with the use of the brackets.
- It looks diffrent to other fonts out in industry to this day. ~Due to the rectangles used.
- The use of the rectangles also make it look diverse.
- This font is also clear and easy to read and will also work when shrunk down to smaller sizes .
- The font is also eye catching so when the public walk past it they will be
interested in the botuique shop or cafe.
As you can see I've also put my type in context so that we can see what it would look like in a boutique logo type, which I think works nicely. I also added a colour in the background of the type to show how postal colours would probably go best with the word 'quaint' and the type.
Overall I’m pleased with my choice of font as I feel I’ve designed a succsessful outcome. If I were to do this task again I would probebly be more pratical and
experiment with paints and materials.
Feedback
- This would work in a boutique shop due to the unique character driven typographic forms which could also be effectively reproduced by a sign, painter/writer.
- Definitely looks good for a boutique store.
- All the Characters are very effective apart from Q and O, which feel too assertive.
- Good sample in 'Quaint' to show a potential context.
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